A comparative study of (Ce) and (Gd) doping influence on the superconducting properties of YBCO ceramics

This work is devoted to investigate the structural and electrical properties of the Ce, Gd-doped YBCO superconductors bulk ceramics. YBa_2-xRE_xCu₃O_7−δ (x = 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1) (RE = Gd, Ce) samples were prepared by means of conventional solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out to identify the present phases in the as-prepared samples followed by the determination of their lattice parameters. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify the functional groups. Furthermore, the morphology and the surface roughness of the studied samples were characterized using Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Vickers Micro-hardness of the as-prepared samples was examined. Besides, the electrical resistivity measurements were achieved to determine the critical transition temperature T_C and the critical current density J_C.The effect of Ce and Gd additions is clearly noticed in the obtained results, where all the prepared samples are superconductors with the presence of Y123 as a major polycrystalline phase. From the XRD patterns, the intensities of the Y123 corresponding peaks decrease with further increasing the Ce and Gd contents. In addition, the variation of the cell parameters was significant after additions of both Ce and Gd, which affect the grain size and the oxygen content of the YBa_2-xRE_xCu₃O_7−δ system. An improvement of the structure and surface roughness is observed on SEM and AFM images. Likewise, Vickers micro-hardness has increased after the Ce and Gd additions. Although, the critical transition temperature T_C was not further increased upon Ce or Gd additions compared to the undoped YBCO samples. Nevertheless, an exception has been recorded with an increase of T_C for YBa_2-xRE_xCu₃O_7−δ with (RE = Gd, x=0.01) to reach 88 K. In contrary, an improvement of the deduced critical current density J_C was achieved for all Ce-doped YBCO samples unlike those of Gd-doped samples.     

Theoretical prediction on the local structure and transport properties of molten alkali chlorides by deep potentials

In this work,the local structure and transport properties of three typical alkali chlorides(LiCl,NaCl,and KCl)were investigated by our newly trained deep potentials(DPs).We extracted datasets from ab initio molecular dynamics(AIMD)calculations and used these to train and validate the DPs.Large-scale and long-time molecular dynamics simulations were performed over a wider range of temperatures than AIMD to confirm the reliability and generality of the DPs.We demonstrated that the generated DPs can serve as a powerful tool for simulating alkali chlorides;the DPs also provide results with accuracy that is comparable to that of AIMD and efficiency that is similar to that of empirical potentials.The partial radial distribution functions and angle distribution functions predicted using the DPs are in close agreement with those derived from AIMD.The estimated densities,self-diffusion coefficients,shear viscosities,and electrical conductivities also matched well with the AIMD and experimental data.This work provides confidence that DPs can be used to explore other systems,including mixtures of chlorides or entirely different salts.     

Air-stable,earth-abundant molten chlorides and corrosion-resistant containment for chemically-robust,high-temperature thermal energy storage for concentrated solar power

A dramatic reduction in man-made CO₂ emissions could be achieved if the cost of electricity generated from concentrated solar power (CSP) plants could become competitive with fossil-fuel-derived electricity. The solar heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency of CSP plants may be significantly increased (and the associated electricity cost decreased) by operating CSP turbines with inlet temperatures ≥750 °C instead of ≤550 °C, and by using thermal energy storage (TES) at ≥750 °C to allow for rapidly dispatchable and/or continuous electricity production. Unfortunately, earth-abundant MgCl₂–KCl-based liquids currently being considered as low-cost media for large-scale, high-temperature TES are susceptible to oxidation in ambient air, with associated undesired changes in liquid composition and enhanced corrosion of metal alloys in pipes and tanks containing such liquids. In this paper, alternative high-temperature, earth-abundant molten chlorides that are resistant to oxidation in ambient air are identified via thermodynamic calculations. The oxidation resistance, and corrosion-resistant containment, of such molten chlorides at 750 °C are then demonstrated. Such an air-tolerant strategy, involving chemically-robust, low-cost TES media paired with effective containment materials, provides a critical advance towards the higher-temperature operation of, and lower-cost electricity generation from, CSP plants.     

Effects of rare-earth oxide doping on the thermal radiation performance of HfO2 coating

In this study, the REO-HfO₂ (REO = Tb₄O₇, Gd₂O₃ and Sm₂O₃) coatings and pure HfO₂ coatings were prepared by atmospheric plasma spraying. The chemical compositions, morphologies, infrared radiation performance and thermal resistances of the coatings were systematically investigated. The experimental results showed that the Tb₄O₇-HfO₂, Gd₂O₃-HfO₂, Sm₂O₃-HfO₂ and pure HfO₂ coatings had infrared emissivity values of 0.863, 0.852, 0.854 and 0.621, respectively, at room temperature. Based on the phase analysis, the higher infrared emissivity of the REO-HfO₂ coatings could be attributed to the fact that the newly formed RE₂Hf₂O₇ (RE = Tb, Gd and Sm) phase, which had a defective fluorite-type structure, and the RE³⁺ ions enhanced the lattice absorption and electron absorption. Additionally, the Tb₄O₇-HfO₂ coating exhibited a relatively higher infrared emissivity than those of the Gd₂O₃-HfO₂ and Sm₂O₃-HfO₂ coating over the wavelength range of 1–15 μm, which was due to the relatively higher vibrational frequency of the TbO bond in RE₂Hf₂O₇ (RE = Tb, Gd and Sm) and the transformation of Tb³⁺ into Tb⁴⁺ in the Tb₄O₇-HfO₂ system. In addition, the REO-HfO₂ ceramic coatings exhibited excellent thermal resistance, which could withstand high-temperature treatment at 1600 °C for at least 50 h without undergoing a phase change and exfoliation, and the infrared emissivity at different temperatures hardly changed after thermal treatment.     

Two- and three-dimensional chloride ingress into fly ash concrete

2D, 3D chloride ion concentration at the edge and corner zones were systematically investigated for fly ash concretes made with different cement replacement percentage by fly ash (0%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%), water to binder ratios (0.3, 0.35, 0.4), and curing ages (28 d, 90 d). An interaction effect caused by 2D and 3D diffusion could obviously be observed through the comparison with 1D testing results. In order to quantify the interaction effect, 2D and 3D diffusion interaction coefficients was proposed in this paper. Finally, the changes of 2D and 3D interaction coefficients with the change in the free chloride ion concentration were given. The above research provide an insight into chloride ion attack on the edge and corner reinforcing bars of concrete structures in the field of civil engineering.     

关于江西省稀土永磁产业发展的初步思考

本文阐述了稀土永磁产业的概念、市场细分和特征,分析了国内外稀土永磁产业发展现状及未来发展趋势,提出了发展我省稀土永磁产业的六点建议。     

Crystallization processes,compressibility, sinterability and mechanical properties of La-monazite-type ceramics

Lanthanide orthophosphate ceramics with monazite structure gained broad interest for several industrial applications. The crystallization processes, compressibility and sinterability of monazite-type lanthanum orthophosphate powder hydrothermally synthesized at 200 °C as well as mechanical properties of the sintered compacts were investigated. Based on a combination of thermo- and surface area analyses, X-ray diffraction as well as scanning electron microscopy studies it was found that the crystallization process occurs at ∼500 °C and the final crystallization of LaPO₄ monoclinic phase takes place at 1400 °C. The sintered pellets are characterized by a density of 98% of theoretical density, a Vickers hardness of 5.7 ± 0.1 GPa and fracture toughness of 1.4 ± 0.1 MPa m^0.5.     

Electrochemistry of thorium in LiCl-KCl eutectic melts

This work presents a study of the electrochemical properties of Th chloride ions dissolved in a molten LiCl-KCl eutectic, in a temperature range of 693-823 K. Transient electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiommetry and chronoamperometry have been used in order to investigate the reduction mechanism on a tungsten electrode and the diffusion coefficient of dissolved Th ions. All techniques showed that only one valence state was stable in the melt. The reduction into Th metal was found to occur according to a one-step mechanism, through a nucleation-controlled process which requires an overpotential of several 100 mV. At 723 K, the diffusion coefficient is D_Th(723 K) = 3.15 ± 0.15 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹. EMF measurements indicated that, at 723 K, the standard apparent potential is (723 K) = −2.582 V versus Cl₂/Cl⁻, and the activity coefficient γThCl₄ (723 K) = 4.6 × 10⁻⁴ on the mole fraction scale (based on a pure liquid reference state).     

一种新型脱卤催化剂水相催化芳香卤化物脱卤

把起相转移作用的聚乙二醇键合到蒙脱土上(MontK10-PEG400),再将聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)配合双金属Pd-Sn(PVP-PdCl2-SnCl4)后负载其上,制成一种新型双负载双金属水相脱卤催化剂PVP-PdCl2-SnCl4/MontK10-PEG400,以甲酸钠为氢转移试剂,在水相中催化芳香卤化物脱卤,结果表明:反应温度为80°C,Pd∶Sn=4∶1(摩尔比)时,该催化剂对芳香氯化物呈现出高的脱氯活性和选择性。芳香氯化物转化率达100%。此催化剂易于制备并具有良好的重复使用性。     

Electrochemical behavior of Dy(III) on bismuth film electrode in eutectic LiCl-KCl melts

An electrochemical study of dysprosium (III) on Bi film electrode was carried out in eutectic LiCl-KCl melts by transient and steady state electrochemical techniques. The results of transient electrochemical techniques showed that the reduction of Dy (III) appears at a more positive value than the one detected on W electrode owing to the formation of Bi-Dy intermetallic compounds through electrochemical deposition of Dy on bismuth film electrode. The thermodynamic properties of the formation for Dy-Bi intermetallics were estimated by a steady state electrochemical method in a temperature range of 713–803 K. Furthermore, the electrochemical preparation of Bi-Dy alloys was conducted by galvanostatic electrolysis at different current intensities. The Bi-Dy alloys, characterized by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray diffraction, are comprised of DyBi_3/5 and DyBi phases.